Everyone needs water and certain chemicals (electrolytes) to be healthy. Normally, you drink fluids to meet the need, and being thirsty tells you when you need more fluids. But babies and very young children can't always tell you when they need fluid, especially when they're sick.
What is dehydration in children?
Dehydration is not having enough water in your body. Children most often become dehydrated if they are throwing up or having diarrhea (frequent, loose watery stool) and aren't drinking enough to make up for it. Fever makes dehydration worse.
Throwing up and diarrhea can cause dehydration
Getting too little milk when breastfeeding can cause dehydration in babies
Severe dehydration can make children very sick or sometimes die
A dehydrated child needs fluids and minerals called electrolytes
Breast milk and oral rehydration solutions (sold at drug and food stores) have the right balance of water and electrolytes
Soda, juice, and sports drinks don't have the right balance of water and electrolytes.
What are the symptoms of dehydration?
Children will have symptoms of whatever is making them dehydrated, such as a lot of throwing up, diarrhea, or both. Dehydration causes symptoms such as:
Playing and talking less
Being cranky and irritable
Crying without making tears
Dry mouth
Sunken cheeks and eyes
Losing weight over just a few days
Urinating fewer than 2 or 3 times a day
Go to a doctor right away if your child has one of these warning signs:
Can’t keep any fluids down
Isn't passing the usual amount of urine or is wetting fewer diapers
Just lies there looking weak and tired
Severe dehydration can be life-threatening if it isn't treated.
How do doctors treat dehydration in children?
Children who have a little vomiting or diarrhea but aren't dehydrated can keep drinking what they usually do. You can give them some extra fluid, such as small sips of clear soups, clear sodas, or a mix of half-juice and half-water. Children over 1 year can also be given popsicles.
Dehydrated children need extra fluid with the right mix of water and electrolytes. Plain water, milk, soda, juice, and sports drinks don't have the right balance of water and electrolytes.
What fluids to give:
Breast milk, if you're already breastfeeding (breast milk contains electrolytes and is the best fluid for breastfeeding babies)
Oral rehydration solution (a combination of water and electrolytes) that you can buy as a powder or liquid at a drug store or grocery store—after your baby has gone 12 hours without throwing up, then you can give formula
How to give fluids:
If your child is dehydrated from throwing up, give small sips of fluids every 10 minutes, then larger amounts more often if your child can keep it down
If your child is dehydrated from diarrhea, give more fluid, less often—you can also give formula or regular food if your child isn't throwing up
If your child is severely dehydrated or is too sick to drink enough, doctors will:
Give fluids through a vein (by IV)
Give fluids through a thin plastic tube that goes into the child's nose, down the throat, and into the stomach
